Grace turned her head and shook it. “Nope.”
I had the feeling Grace wasn’t being honest. “Weird, cause I ran into him a couple days ago.”
Grace quickly looked back at me. “What? You ran into Noah? Where?”
I smiled slightly. “I was walking across campus and there he was. Walking straight toward me with that drop my panties and take me on-the-spot smile of his.”
Grace narrowed her eyes at me. “You can’t talk about another guy like that,
not when you’re with my brother.”
I bumped her shoulder. “I believe those were your words when you came back from seeing him again this past summer when we were all at the beach.”
Grace’s mouth dropped open. “How did you know? Wait—you knew I met up with him again?”
“Not until you got toasted our last night at the beach and told me and Alex. You ran into him when you were running on the beach and he invited you back to his parents’ house and y’all …” I looked up like I was thinking. Looking back at Grace I smirked and said, “Y’all got all sweaty again.”
Grace turned and looked straight ahead. “Noah asked me how you were. Said he has texted you a few times and hasn’t heard back from you. Why are you ignoring him, Grace? You really acted like you liked him that night.”
Still staring straight ahead Grace answered. “I was drunk.” She looked into my eyes. “I’m not opening myself up to be hurt again, Libby.”
I pulled back and saw the fear in Grace’s eyes. “What is it about you Johnson kids? Grace, you’ll never know unless you open up and let him in. He’s a really nice guy and I think—”
Grace stood up. “Don’t think, Libby. He was nothing but a good fuck. That’s it and that’s all he’ll ever be. A guy like Noah Bennet does not want a girl like me.”
I stood up. “What does that mean? A girl like you? You’re amazing, Grace. You’re beautiful, smart, and can get any damn guy you want.”
Grace chuckled as she shook her head and looked away. “Not this time, Libby.” I watched as Grace walked to the living room. Two guys were standing there talking. One was blond and the other had light-brown hair. He must have been a football player because he was built and had an amazing body. He pushed his hand through his hair as Grace walked up and held out her hand. She smiled and that was all it took—he was putty in her hands. Luke and Will had hired a DJ who was set up in the backyard. Grace took the guy’s hand and began leading him outside.
I let out a sigh and closed my eyes. My arm tingled and I quickly opened my eyes to see Luke standing there. “Dance with me, Lib?”
Biting my lip, I nodded and placed my hand in his. We made our way through the living room, formal dining room, and then through the game room. When we walked out back I glanced around for Grace. She was wrapped up in the arms of the guy she walked out here with. “I Put a Spell On You” was playing and it was pretty clear Grace had indeed put a spell on the poor guy dancing with her.
Luke pulled me into his arms and began singing to me as I looked into his emerald-green eyes. Leaning down, Luke sucked in my lower lip with his teeth as I let out a moan. When his lips pressed against mine and our tongues danced together, I was lost. I soon forgot about Grace and Noah and focused only on the incredible urge to be lying in bed, wrapped in Luke’s arms.
“I CANNOT BELIEVE I’m letting you talk me into this!” Libby whispered.
I laughed and glanced to her. “Why are you whispering? No one is home, Lib.”
Libby shrugged her shoulders as she helped me put the clear plastic wrap over Grace’s toilet. “I don’t know.”
Chuckling, I pulled the clear wrap tight. We stood back and looked at our work. Smiling, we looked at each other and gave a high five. I reached down and grabbed the wrap. We made our way out of the bedroom. “What time is Grace due home?” I asked as we made our way back downstairs.
Libby smiled. “Any minute! I didn’t know it was so late.”
We made our way into the kitchen and I was brought back to the time when Libby and I talked Will into trying to fly off the barn. It hadn’t taken much convincing and we had Will believing if we attached homemade wings he would be able to soar in the sky and land softly to the ground.
One broken arm later, Libby and I were both grounded for a month. I would sneak out at night and take my bike over to her house. Climbing up to her window, we would sit on the roof of the porch for hours and talk.
Peeking over to Libby, I watched as she pulled out a watermelon and began cutting it up. Glancing up she smiled. “Want some watermelon?”
I nodded my head and sat down on one of the barstools we had at the kitchen island. “Do you remember the time we got grounded for talking Will into flying off the barn?”
Libby’s eyes met mine. She smiled so big it caused me to laugh. “I remember the time you talked me into talking my brother into soaring through the air.” She shook her head. “Poor, Will. He broke his arm and we were all so afraid to tell my mom.”
I watched as Libby moved across the kitchen. My heart began to beat stronger in my chest. She’s mine. She’s finally mine.
Taking in a breath, I slowly let it out. “Do you know what I remember most about that time?”